Ampule



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR ESMIT A. E. SMITH AMPULE Filed Feb.2Q, 1945 May 29, 1945.

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AMPULE Filed Feb. 20, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR. ARTHUR E. SMITHPatented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,377,274 AMPULEArthur E. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 20, 1943, Serial No. 476,558

, 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a combination syringe and ampule.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved injectingdevice by means of which an operator may introduce a quantity of liquidinto the veins or other parts of the body of a patient.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel syringeand ampule whereby a fresh solution may be quickly prepared andinjected. I a i A more specific object of the invention is to provide anovel ampule which may be made of plastic or similar readily Workedmaterial.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a plastic ampulehaving a novel integral partition member therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel compartmentalampule wherein the compartments are provided by a partition formedintegral with the ampule and by a pair of corks arranged at oppositeends of the ampule on either side of the partition.

Other objects and the advantages of my invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central sectional view through a syringe and ampuleembodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a central sectional view of the ampule on an enlarged scale; v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view, on an enlarged scale showing aportion of the syringe and of the ampule; 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an ampule with a modifiedpartition member; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing a further modification. I

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have shown myinvention embodied in a combination ampule and syringe which isindicated generally at H). As shown the syringe includes a barrel havinga front member |2 secured to the front end of the barrel by threads l3.

The front member is provided with a tube M which is securely fixed in arecess l5 in the front member. The tube M has a sharpened inner end BIand has lateral discharge holes therein. At

its rear end the barrel II has a rear member I8 removably securedthereto as by threads IS. The rear member includes a plunger 20 having ahand grip 2| at the outer end thereof. The plunger passes through a hole22 in the rear member and atits front end has a piston head 23 thereon.The plunger is surrounded by a spring 24 the lower end of which engagesan end member 25 on a sleeve 26. The sleeve 26 slides within the rearmember l8 and the end member 25 thereon is adapted to engage the end ofan ampule 21 arranged in the syringe barrel.

The ampule 21 may be made of material such as cellulose acetate, methylmethacrylate, polystyrene or other plastics which resist dissolution inwater, saline and/or acid solutions. The material'employed will bedetermined in a degree by its insolubility in the solutions which are tobe contained therein, In the disclosure the applicant uses distilledwater as the vehicleior the drug.

The ampule intermediate its ends and preferably near the front endthereof is provided with an integral partition 28. The partition in thedisclosure has a plane rear face 29 and a convex front face 3|] and as aresult a thin edge portion 3| is provided where the partition isintegrally connected with the tubular portion of the ampule 21.

The material of which the ampule is con.- structed is more or lessfrangible so thatpartition 29 may be dislodged -bypressure upon themiddle portion thereof.

Forward of the partition 28 I arrange a compartment stopper 32 which ispreferably made of rubber and has a recess 33 in its inner end. In thisrecess I arrange a medicinal drug tablet 34. The outer end of the recess33 is closed by a diaphragm 35 which is spaced on the extreme end of thestopper so a recess 36 is provided. The stopper may include an endflange 31 which engages theend of the ampule.

The ampule is filled with a suit-able solvent 38' for the drug 34 and isclosed by a piston cork 39 which includes a body 40 having a thinforwardly extending annular collar 4| thereon and with a central recess42 so that a diaphragm 43 is provided. The forward end of the pistoncork is shown as rounded at 44 to provide a feather edge.

In use the rear member I8 is removed and the ampule 2'! is inserted inthe barrel of the syringe. The act of seating the ampule in the barrel,that is the moving forward of the ampule, causes the pointed portion I6of the tube 4 to pierce the diaphragm 35 and impinge upon partition 28.The partition is thus broken at its thin weak edge to allow the drug 34and solvent 38 to mix so that a fresh solution is provided.

A needle 45 is secured to th front member I! by means of a cap 46 andthe syringe is ready for use. The operator inserts the needle and thenpresses on the finger grip portion 2| which moves the stopper 40 intothe ampule thereby forcing fluid through the discharge aperture I1 andthence to and through the needle 45 the upper end of which projects partway into the tube It.

The tube l4 projects into the syringe barrel 9. distance greater thanthe distance from the partition 28 to the forward end of the ampule othat breaking of the member 28 will be assured. When the ampule isseated in the barrel as in Fig. 3 it will be noted that the piston corkhas moved down to engage the front cork and has trapped the broken awayclosure 28 between the corks.

In Fig. 4 I show a modification of the invention wherein the ampule 50is provided with an integral partition 5| which is convex on both sidesand has a thin edge portion 52 by means of which it is connectedintegrally with the side wall of the ampule. In Fig. 5 the ampule 60 isprovided with partition 6| which is plane on both sides and has upperand lower grooves 62 and 63 therein forming a thin portion 64 by meansof which it is connected with the ampule wall.

The use of the ampule shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to that inconnection with the ampule shown in Fig. 2 and a further description isbelieved unnecessary.

The relatively thick central portion of the partition together with theweakened peripheral portion assures that pressure of the tube l4 willbreak the partition and that the tube will not merely pierce thepartition without breaking it away.

The double convex partition provides a maximum center thickness so thatthe partition will not be punctured but will break away, This type ofpartition may be used with the softer plasticsi The double plane facedpartition is preferably employed with the brittle or more frangiblematerials while the plano-convex partition gives strength with a thickcenter and with a minimum amount of material.

From the foregoing description it will b apparent that I have invented anovel combination syringe and'ampule which can be economicallymanufactured and is efiicient for its intended use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampule having a tubular portion made of plastic material, aslidable piston member positioned within the upper end of the ampule, apuncturable stopper positioned within the lower end of the ampule, saidstopper having a compartment housing a drug and an open topcommunicating with said compartment, said ampule having an integralpartition of plastic material positioned just above said stopper, saidampule containing a solvent for the drug between the slidable piston andthe partition, said stopper adapted to be pierced by an instrumentinserted therethrough, said plastic partition having an enlarged bodyportion and a thinner edge portion where the partition is integrallyjoined to said tubular portion, said partition adapted because of itsenlarged body portion to resist fractional breakage, said partitionadapted upon receipt of non-magnetic and direct pressure of aninstrument inserted upwardly within said ampule to break away cleanly ina single piece at said edge portion from said tubular portion, anddescend through the open top of said stopper into said compartment forentrapment therein.

2.An ampule having a tubular portion made of plastic material, aslidable piston member positioned within the upper end of the ampule, apuncturable stopper positioned within the lower end of the ampule, saidstopper havin a compartment housing a drug and an open top communicatingwith said compartment, said ampule having an integral partition ofplastic material positioned just above said stopper, said ampulecontaining a solvent for the drug between the slidable piston and thepartition, said stopper adapted to be pierced by an instrument insertedtherethrough, said plastic partition having an enlarged plano-convexbody portion and a thinner edge portion where the partition isintegrally Joined to said tubular portion, said partition adaptedbecause of its enlarged body portion to resist fractional breakage, saidpartition adapted upon receipt of non-magnetic and direct pressure of aninstrument inserted upwardly within said ampule to break away cleanly ina single piece at said edge portion from said tubular portion, anddescend through the open top of said stopper into said compartment forentrapment therein.

3. An ampule having a tubular portion made of plastic material, aslidable piston member positioned within the upper end of the ampule, apuncturable stopper positioned within the lower end of the ampule, saidstopper having a compartment housing a drug and an open topcommunicating with said compartment, said ampule having an integralpartition of plastic material positioned just above said stopper, saidampule containing a solvent for the drug between the slidable piston andthe partition, said stopper

